SU Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network set for state-wide Great American Smokeout Celebration

Baton Rouge, LA – The American Cancer Society has dubbed the third Thursday of every November as ‘The Great American Smokeout.’ Smokers are encouraged to use the date, which is November 17 this year, to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking on that day.

In honor of this national event, the Southern University Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network (CoC) will host activities in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport. (All events are free and will be held on November 17.)

Baton Rouge

Southern University students, faculty, staff and the Baton Rouge community are invited to attend the CoC’s Great American Smokeout event from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Fisher Hall on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus.  

The event will feature a seminar that will address the benefits of quitting smoking for the day with the hopes of quitting for good and a booth display that will provide attendees with an opportunity to enroll in smoking cessation programs. The Southern University Intramural Sports Department will also be on hand to get participants to substitute the butts and move to the beat of healthy living.

A “smoke out” of refreshments will be served off the grill to include: hamburgers, sausages, and hot dogs.  Participants will also receive collaterals with no smoking messages.

The CoC will also host a cessation presentation at the Bethesda Rehab Outpatient, 7222 Bluebonnet. The event, which will be held from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., will also provide individuals with cessation resources to help them stop smoking and a demonstration on the harmful impact of tobacco on the body. 

For additional information on these events, contact Linda Brown or Frankie Poland at 225-771-2242.

New Orleans

The CoC Network invites residents of New Orleans to exchange their cigarettes for a “cold turkey” sandwich. Quit “cold turkey!”

During this event, which will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Southern University New Orleans (SUNO) campus - 6400 Press Drive, people who visit the informational site will receive vital information that can save a life. They will exchange their cigarettes for “cold turkey” sandwiches to quit for the day.

The CoC’s staff and volunteers will also provide smoking cessation incentives, as well as, information about heart and vascular health.  A booth display will be available to ensure individuals receive resources for cessation and information regarding the dangers of tobacco.

For additional information, contact Hendrix Broussard at 504-736-6519.

Shreveport

Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in an evening of smoke-free fun. The CoC will host if Shreveport Great American Smokeout event from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Shreveport Job Corps, 2815 Lillian Street. The event will feature a Bingo style game called, “What’s in Tobacco,” and a Cessation Workshop. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit a Secondhand Smoke Display and enroll in the smoking cessation trust.

For additional information, contact Urina Holt at, 318-670-9633.

“As an agent of change, Southern University Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network is ecstatic at the opportunity to mobilize our team and utilize our resources, to save lives through educational awareness activities that will permanently make a difference in the lives of our constituents statewide, especially as we celebrate Great American Smokeout Day,” Linda Early Brown, Director of the Communities of Color Network. 

About 40 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 17% in 2014), cigar, pipe, and hookah – as well as other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke tobacco.

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Quitting is hard, but individuals can increase their chances of success with help. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.

CoC is an affiliate of the Louisiana Public Health Institute/The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. The network provides support and technical assistance to African-American communities to ensure that they are well-informed about the dangers of tobacco, and understand how to protect themselves from unhealthy exposure.

Its mission is to eliminate health inequalities caused by or related to tobacco use among Louisiana communities of color by building coalitions, increasing awareness of the dangers of tobacco, and reducing tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke exposure.

For additional information about the Communities of Color Network, contact Linda Early Brown at 225.771.2242.

###

                                                                                                       

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Southern University’s local MANNRS Chapter hosts Annual Sweet Potato Sale

Event Flyer

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University chapter of the Minority in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS) - a student organization - is currently taking orders for its Annual Sweet Potato Sale.

Individuals can purchase 40 pound boxes of sweet potatoes for $20. Payment is required with your order in the form of cash, checks and money orders. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the SU MANNRS Chapter.

The deadlines to place an order is Tuesday, November 15.  

Pick-ups will occur Thursday, November 17 from noon to 2 p.m. at the SU Ag Center – A.O. Williams Hall back parking lot.

For additional information contact, Mrs. Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2242.

###

                                                                                                       

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center set to host its 2016 Fall Garden Workshop

Event Flyer

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Ag Center will host its Fall Garden Workshop themed, “Recovering Your Soil – Gardens, Farms and Spirit.” The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2016.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The workshop will focus on the topics of:

·         Soil Health

·         Soil Sampling

·         Fall and Spring Planting

·         Flood Resistant Trees

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities that include:

·         Propagating Fig Trees

·         Wreath & Bow Making

·         Healthy Eating for the Season

This workshop is ideal for school and community garden coordinators, large and small farmers, backyard gardeners, college students and anyone interested in learning something new about agriculture.

The Southern University Ag Center, its Wisteria Alliance Program and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program are co-sponsoring this event.

For additional information or to RSVP, contact Mila Berhane, Stephanie Elwood, Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin, Zanetta Augustine or Emily King at 225-771-2242.

###

                                                                                                       

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center Expert to Speak at Louisiana Ranchers & Growers Association’s Workshop

Event Flyer

Baton Rouge, LA – On Nov. 12, the Louisiana Ranchers & Growers Association (LRGA) will hold a Workshop and Annual Meeting themed, “From Start to Future: Building an Ag Business Step by Step.”

Mrs. Mila Berhane, SU Ag Center Senior Research Associate, will serve as one of the speakers at the event which will take place at the Southern University Ag Center on 181 B.A. Little Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70813, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Farmers will share how they got started and how they are developing their enterprises.

The morning session will feature farmers telling the stories of their enterprises. They will talk about what they intended to do, what they are doing, and what they plan on doing.  For example, Berhane and her husband Andeab have a 25-year-old business selling plants—everything from vegetable transplants to trees and hanging baskets. Mila will talk about how they got started and how the business has evolved through the years. Grant and Allison Guidroz have an organic vegetable operation that is in its early stages. Allison will talk about the steps they took to get started, their current situation and plans for the future. To have a future on the farm, you have to put safety first. Delores Andrews, a small farmer, will talk about steps farmers should take to avoid injury and health consequences. Edith Gross & Lynda Ingram will address the necessity of keeping farm records.

The LRGA’s annual meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will consist of a business meeting focusing on the organization’s financial report and budget; proposed by-law changes; election of board members; and programs for 2017.

The Southern University Ag Center is a co-sponsor of the LRGA Annual Meeting.

The event is free and open to the public.  Please RSVP by calling Emily King at 225-718-3705 or via email at emily_king@suagcenter.com.

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center Receives Grant for Food Safety Training

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Ag Center is participating in a $3.625 million grant to assist produce growers in improving their safety practices ahead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) implementation of its Produce Safety Rule.

The grant was awarded to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry by the FDA. The Southern University and LSU Ag Centers are collaborators on the grant with the SU Ag Center receiving about $500,536.

Earlier this year, the FDA awarded a total of $21.8 million in grants to agencies in 42 states to help implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

“The funds will help educate farmers, especially small and underserved produce growers, about the Produce Safety Rule that is part of the Food Safety Modernization Act,” said Fatemeh Malekian, SU Ag Center Professor of food science and nutrition and Project Director of the grant. “The SU Ag Center will bring experience and collaborate with other entities in conducting farm inventory (especially for small farmers), conducting a self-assessment/readiness, evaluating existing statutory and/or regulatory authority related to produce safety, conducting trainings and determining the changes to establish, operate and maintain a Produce Safety Program that is supportive of the requirements in the FDA's Produce Safety Regulation,” she continued.

The SU Ag Center will also hire a Produce Safety Program Coordinator to oversee the progress of the project.

The Produce Safety Rule was finalized in November 2015 and sets standards for growing, harvesting, packing and storing fruits and vegetables. It addresses water quality, composting, farm personnel health and hygiene and equipment sanitation among other issues.  Large farms must comply with the rule by January 2018. Smaller farms have more time to comply.

Malekian stated that both Ag Centers will work together to create an inventory of Louisiana farms, especially small farms, subject to the Produce Safety Rule and related state regulations. The Ag Centers will also jointly educate growers on safety practices and rules through several workshops that are being planned for early 2017. These workshops will explain how the new regulations will affect farms and what steps growers must take to get in compliance.

Malekian and several LSU AgCenter agents will travel to Overton, Texas, from Nov. 7 - 8, to take a train-the-trainer course taught by experts from Texas A & M University, the Produce Safety Alliance and the LSU AgCenter.

“This will provide me with the background and information I need to teach and set food safety workshops utilizing the FDA produce safety standards,” added Malekian.

*Funding for this statement, publication, press release, etc. was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through PAR-16-137.  The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.*

                                                            ###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center faculty works with Kiwanis Club to secure grant for disaster relief

Baton Rouge, La. - Fatemeh Malekian, Professor of food science and nutrition at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and member of the Baton Rouge Early Risers Kiwanis club, serves as faculty advisor to the Key Club at the Southern University Laboratory (SU Lab) School.  Dr. Malekian has served in different capacities including president, lieutenant governor, and Key Club adviser thus far. 

After the historic flood of 2016 in Louisiana, a number of families at Southern University Lab School lost everything.  The Baton Rouge Early Risers Kiwanis Club with Malekian’s leadership, partnered with the PTO/Kitten Club of SU Lab to write a Disaster Relief grant to assist the families impacted by the flood. The funds received from Kiwanis International will help in creating a service project to meet the needs of North Baton Rouge residents in their recovery efforts.  

On October 28, during the Southern University Lab School homecoming football game, Dr. Fatemeh Malekian and two other members of the of the  Kiwanis Club, Morgan Watson and Raymond Locket, presented a check in the amount of $4,910.00 to the SU Lab School Foundation.  This fund will be used to replace necessary items for students, and assist the Key Club members in conducting service projects wherever necessary in the community around the campus. 

“I am very proud to be able to assist our own Southern University Lab School students.  They are a part our campus family, our future students at Southern University and future leaders,” said Fatemeh.  

Kiwanis is a global service organization dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  The Baton Rouge Early Risers Club is one of the 18 clubs in the Baton Rouge area.  Its members are Southern University faculty, alumni, staff, students and surrounding community members.  The goal of the Baton Rouge Early Riser Club is to serve communities surrounding the Southern University Campus.

Key Club is an international service leadership organization for teens, which teaches leadership through service to others.

Click here for more details on the check presentation to SU Lab School Foundation.

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter  

SU Ag Center partners with Missy Radio Organization to co-host 10th Annual Pink Party with a Purpose…“Pink Bike Ride”

Event Flyer

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Ag Center and College of Agriculture have partnered with the Missy Radio Organization, Southern University Student Organizations and the Southern University Alumni Federation to host the 10^th Annual Pink Party with a Purpose…“Pink Bike Ride.”

The breast cancer awareness event will be held on November 4, 2016 with registration beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the Pink Bike Ride being held from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus. The 10 mile bike ride will begin at the SU Field House and travel through the SUBR and SU Ag Center campuses with ‘pink passport stops’ along the route. Tickets range from $0 - $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a Pink Party Recipient who is currently undergoing preparation for chemotherapy treatment.

The Pink Party with a Purpose began in 2006, when local radio personalities Missy and Sashika joined forces to raise awareness to young women about breast cancer after Missy’s hairstylist, Jacinta Freeman, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 28. Freeman had to abruptly stop working to undergo a mastectomy and chemotherapy, which caused her to lose a portion of her primary source of income. 

As a result both Missy and Sashika put on their creative wigs and gave birth to, “The Pink Party with a Purpose.”  For the past ten years, ten ladies have received an outpouring of love from the community during their time of need.

The entire family will have an opportunity to join a cause that raises awareness to millions around the U.S. during the month of October.  Pink Bike Riders can log on to www.MissyRadio.org to pre-register, get tickets, or make a donation.  On-site registration and a limited number of bike rentals will also be available.

The Missy Radio Organization is a ten year champion in bringing awareness to breast cancer in young women. The organization consist of a network of individuals and other organizations dedicated to facilitating communications and education to improve communities in Louisiana. The organization aims to facilitate community expression; provide access to interactive media for the purpose of sharing news, music, culture, and information; and the production of unique and diverse programming that challenges the cultural and intellectual assumption of its core audience with a respect for all peoples and a concern for those under-represented by other media.

For additional information, contact SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent Nicolette Gordon at 225-222-4136.

                                                            ###

                                                                                                       

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

15-Year-Old NASA Blueberry Alyssa Carson Stops by St. Helena College & Career Academy

Standing from left are, St. Helena College & Career Academy Principal Reginald Douglas, NASA Blueberry Alyssa Carson, Science Teacher Prasanna Epuri and SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent Nicolette Gordon.

Baton Rouge, LA – In honor of 4-H National Youth Science Day, students at the St. Helena College & Career Academy received a surprise visit from 15-year-old NASA Blueberry Alyssa Carson on Oct. 10^th. 

Alyssa, who has dreamed of becoming an astronaut since the age of three, had some very encouraging words for the academy’s 8^th, 9^th and 10^th graders.  Carson, who is an active NASA Blueberry shared with youth that she spends a substantial amount of time researching various topics on Mars.  Her main goal is to be one of the youngest astronauts to go on a short mission to Mars, by the year 2020.  As with many goals, preparation is the key ingredient and Alyssa’s long list of impressive accomplishments puts her right on target.

Carson also advised youth interested in aerospace to begin training at NASA Space Camps.  These camps provide simulated missions, engineer challenges, and sharpen leadership skills. She stated that she has already completed Space Camp Turkey, Space Camp Canada and will soon be one of the first to complete all NASA Space Camps in the world.  Students were in awe, as Carson demonstrated with a basketball and string how far Earth is from Mars.  The best analogy that Carson gave, was to think about 300 football fields.  Certainly, that raised many questions and peaked a lot of interest throughout the auditorium.

There are so many technological advances taking place daily in space, and she concluded by reminding all youth that they are the “Mars Generation.”  

  

                                                            ###

                                                                                                       

Article written by Nicolette Gordon, SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent.

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Calling for USDA/1890 National Scholarship Application

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University A&M College System is inviting students to apply for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program participation. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a major effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the nineteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions to award scholarships to students to attend one of the nineteen 1890 Institutions in any field of study in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines.

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor's degree at one of the nineteen 1890 Institutions, which includes Southern University.

Application DEADLINE Saturday, December 31, 2016. Click the following link for more information: http://www.outreach.usda.gov/education/1890/index.htm.

For more detail, contact Ms. Allison Johnson, (Southern University resident USDA Liaison) at (225) 771-3355 or via email: allison_johnson@subr.edu

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU’s HBCU All-Star Scholar to kick-off Campus Recycling Initiative

Event Flyer

Baton Rouge, LA – Kalaia Tripeaux, a Southern University Urban Forestry major and the University's 2016 HBCU All-Star Scholar, will kick-off a University wide recycling initiative on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. during the Annual Homecoming Student Health Fair in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union.

All Southern University students, faculty and staff are asked to bring plastic bottles and clean paper to be recycled during the event.

Tripeaux is hosting the event as her campus initiative, which each HBCU All-Star is required to conduct.

The 21 year-old Baton Rouge native was selected as one of 73 students from a national pool of 300 candidates to be named the 2016 White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) All-Stars.

The All-Stars, which are comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, are being recognized for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and civic engagement.

                                                            ###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center, Southern University, LSU and Community Stakeholders Work Together to Develop Scotlandville Promise Neighborhood

Members of the Scotlandville Promise Neighborhood team are, from left, Dr. Melanie Johnson, Political Science; Dr. Sandra Brown, School of Nursing; Dr. Bobby R. Phills, Chancellor-Dean  of the SU Ag Center - College of Agriculture; Dr. Michael A. Stubblefield, Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives; Dr. Renita Marshall, SU Ag Center - College of Agriculture; Dr. Revathi Hines, Political Science. Standing on the second row are:  Dr. Albert L. Samuels, Interim Dean of the Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences; Dr. Erma Borskey, Social Work and Dr. Diana F. Kelly, College of Education. Team members not pictured are: Dr. Patrick Carriere, College of Engineering; Atty. Chris K. Odinet, Horatio C. Thompson Assistant Professor of Law and Louisiana Bar Foundation Scholar and Dr. Tiffany Franklin, SU Ag Center - College of Agriculture.  Photo by Chris Rogers, SU Ag Center - College of  Ag.

Community Collaboration to Improve the Scotlandville Community

Baton Rouge, LA – Scotlandville is a historic community in North Baton Rouge, and the home of Southern University.

Southern University and A&M College, Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, LSU, and other community stakeholders have partnered together to design and implement a community engagement effort known as the Scotlandville Promise Neighborhood. 

This initiative is designed to improve health outcomes, increase economic potential, reduce incarceration rates, and improve graduation rates and college and career readiness within the Scotlandville community.

To support this effort, a team has submitted a proposal to the Promise Neighborhoods Program, a part of the White House Place-Based Initiatives, and if funded will bring over $30 million into the community. 

The initiative will focus its efforts in the Scotlandville community on Wellness, Early Childhood Development, K-12 Learning, College and Career Readiness and Family and Community Engagement. Under the charge and direction of the SU Office of Research & Strategic Initiatives, this cross – campus, cross disciplinary collaboration can truly make a difference.

The Promise Neighborhoods Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The program began in 2010 under the Obama Administration as a community revitalization effort that provides comprehensive, cradle-to-career support for students and families in distressed communities with a school centered approach. 

For additional information on the Scotlandville Promise Neighborhood initiative, contact Renita W. Marshall, DVM, and associate professor at the SU Ag Center, at 225-771-2242.

                                                            ###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Chancellor-Dean Dr. Bobby Phills meets with the Farm Crew

Baton Rouge, La. - The Southern University Ag Center (Land-grant Campus) Chancellor-Dean Dr. Bobby Phills meets with the Farm Crew to discuss influential farm opportunities throughout the Land-grant Campus.  Dr. Calvin R. Walker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research participated in the discussions.

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Calling all SU Freshman Students to Take the Jag Bar Challenge

Jag Bar Challenge Flyer

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Ag Center is conducting a nutrition study entitled “University freshmen moving toward becoming ambassadors for healthy communities and future generations.” Freshmen students are hereby being invited to participate in the 16-week long study. We need at least 50 freshmen students for the challenge in the spring semester of 2017.

The weight loss challenge pays $200.00 and provides a Jag Bar for breakfast every morning to qualifying freshman students who register by the end of the Fall 2016 Semester. See attached flyer for full details.

For more information, contact Mfamara Goita at (225) 771-2152, mfamara_goita@suagcenter.com; or Fatemeh Malekian at (225) 771-0251 or via email at fatemeh_malekian@suagcenter.com

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

SU Ag Center Chancellor – Dean of the College of Ag, Dr. Bobby Phills, to host a Homecoming Round-Up

SU College of Ag Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, SU Ag Center Employees and Constituents invited to attend

Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Baton Rouge campus will celebrate Homecoming the week of Oct. 16 – 22, 2016.

As part of the celebration, Dr. Bobby R. Phills, Chancellor-Dean of the Southern University Ag Center and the College of Agriculture, has invited all College of Agriculture students, alumni, SU Ag Center employees and the Center’s constituents to join him during Homecoming.

Dr. Phills will host a “Meet and Greet with the Chancellor – Dean,” for College of Agriculture students on Friday, Oct. 21 at 12 p.m., on the front lawn of Fisher Hall.

He will also discuss the “State of the Land-Grant Campus” with College of Agriculture alumni and SU Ag Center constituents at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22^nd in room 106 of Fisher Hall.

Refreshments will be served at both events, which are free; however, the SU Athletics Department charges a $10 fee per vehicle to park on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus on game days. Parking passes can also be purchased from the SU Ticket Office for $25.

The Southern Jaguars will take on the UAPB Golden Lions at 4 p.m. (on Oct. 22) with a Homecoming Pre-Game Show beginning at 2:45 p.m. The game day color for Homecoming is gold.

For a complete listing of all Southern University Homecoming Activities, visit http://sujaguars.wixsite.com/suhc.

For additional information on the SU Ag Center/ College of Agriculture Homecoming Round-Up, contact the SU Ag Center at 225-771-2242.

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

USDA Celebrates National School Lunch Week and Farm to School Month

Baton Rouge, La. – On October 11, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) joined youth, parents, schools, communities, and partners across the country in honoring National School Lunch Week 2016, as proclaimed by President Obama, a time to reflect on the positive steps our nation has taken to make nutrition a priority in every U.S. school. This also coincides with the month-long celebration of Farm to School Month, which recognizes efforts to bring local foods into schools and onto students' trays.

"This is a time to reflect on the important role of the National School Lunch Program and Farm to School initiatives in improving the health of children across the country, as well as creating new opportunities for farmers and ranchers to provide schools with fresh, nutritious food," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "USDA recognizes the dedicated school nutrition professionals who are committed to creating a healthy environment for all children, teaching them the importance of good nutrition, and helping them form the healthy habits they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. We also celebrate the success of farm to school initiatives, which support local economies and are truly a win-win for America's schools, farmers, producers, communities, and children. We will continue to work tirelessly until consistent access to nutritious food is a reality for every child in America."

The more than 50 million children who attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs are experiencing school environments that are healthier than ever. These students have access to balanced meals that reflect the latest nutrition science in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as well as recommendations from pediatricians and National Academy of Medicine. The meals feature more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat milk. Many of these items can be locally-sourced through farm to school programs.

The fresh, local foods offered through farm to school programs help school meal programs provide healthy, appealing, and diverse offerings. Results of the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census show that more than 42,000 schools nationwide have a farm to school program. These schools report reductions in food waste, higher school meal participation rates, and increased willingness of the students to try new foods, notably fruits and vegetables. In the 2013-14 school year alone, these programs invested nearly $800 million back into local economies, helping 23.6 million students develop healthy eating habits and learn where their food comes from.

Building on the progress around the country, this summer, USDA issued two additional final rules: Smart Snacks in Schools and Local School Wellness Policy. For the last few years, schools have been serving breakfasts and lunches that meet the updated standards under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; in fact, more than 99 percent of schools nationwide currently report meeting those new nutrition standards. The recent regulations put in place by the Smart Snacks in Schools Final Rule and Local School Wellness Policy Final Rule take healthy school environments one step further by holding snacks served in schools and food or beverage marketing students are exposed to during the school day to standards that are consistent with those for school meals.
Healthy school meals are particularly important for the more than 13 million U.S. children who live in food insecure households; for some, school meals may be all nutrition they receive in a day. To help reduce hunger, USDA's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), an optional cost-sharing partnership between the federal government and school districts in high-poverty areas, allows eligible schools in lower income areas to serve nutritious lunches and breakfasts to all students at no cost. Not only does CEP help break down barriers that can prevent children in need from accessing school meals, it also greatly reduces the administrative burden on schools and families. Close to 8.5 million students from more than 18,000 schools across the country participated in the program in school year 2015-16.

USDA provides a number of resources to schools to help support continued progress. For example, USDA's Team Up for School Nutrition Success initiative offers mentor-based training and action planning for school food service professionals. In addition, USDA provides grants to support healthy school environments. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently awarded $6.7 million in grants through the Team Nutrition Training Grants to expand and enhance training for school nutrition and child care professionals. They are also currently accepting applications for up to $5 million in Farm to School Grants.
Farm to School Grants and support for local food in schools are part of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF2) Initiative, which coordinates the Department's work to develop strong local and regional food systems. Over the course of the Obama Administration, USDA has invested close to $1 billion in 40,000 local food-related projects on farms and in communities across the country. You can find local and regional supply chain resources on the newly-revamped KYF2 website and use the KYF2 Compass to locate USDA investments in your community.

To learn more about the latest accomplishments of USDA's nutrition assistance programs, see the new infographic, The Impact and Legacy of USDA Nutrition Programs from 2009 to 2016. An extended narrative by Secretary Vilsack on the progress in fighting hunger and improving the health of America's children over the last eight years can be found on USDA's Medium page.

FNS administers 15 nutrition assistance programs. In addition to the National School Lunch Program, this includes the School Breakfast Program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); the Summer Food Service Program, and others. Together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov.

###

http://www.suagcenter.com/

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter